BY DEBBIE PAGE
While reporting an increase in motor vehicle crashes and property crimes and arrests for drug and weapons violations, Police Chief Josh Watson told Troutman Town Council members this week that he will request funding for two new officers and a salary increase for new hires in the 2023-2024 budget.
During the Town Council’s annual strategic planning retreat, the chief shared that two officers and a supervisor are on duty at all times, with two squads approved to expand to three officers, once hiring for three open positions is complete. Watson said the TPD has received 11 quality applications for those openings.
Each TPD officer received a minimum of 46 hours of in-service training, with a combined total of 1,400 hours for its 18 officers, including training in intox operator and radar operator certification and first line supervision, general instructor, and field training.
Watson also oversaw updates to the department’s policy manual to meet accreditation standards and implemented standardized reporting procedures to ensure proper documentation and accurate crime statistics.
The chief emphasized community policing and outreach this past year, including sandlot baseball games, officers reading at the library’s story time, community meetings, the Red and Blue 5K race, targeted enforcement based on community reporting, and a focus on neighborhood patrols and officer interaction with residents.
In 2022, officers conducted 3,647 neighborhood patrols and performed 4,596 business checks. They answered 4,070 calls for service, investigated 208 vehicle crashes (49 percent increase), conducted 557 investigations (67 percent increase), and documented an increase in larceny and breaking and entering incidents.
In response to an increase in vandalism at ESC Park, officers increased patrols and moved a license plate reader (LPR) camera near the park entrance as an investigative tool.
Officers recovered $193,020 worth of stolen property in 2022, with most larceny and breaking and entering occurring on new construction sites. In response, officers are increasing patrols and using LPRs to target this type of crime.
His department’s proactive police work included a 129 percent increase in impaired driver arrests, a 76 percent increase in narcotics charges, and a 130 percent increase in weapons violations.
The department has full-time SROs, funded in partnership with Iredell-Statesville Schools, in each Troutman school, including two at South Iredell High. Officers continue to see increased incidents at the high school, with 21 percent of narcotics (mostly THC or marijuana) incidents, 65 percent of weapons charges, and 45 percent of assaults reported in Troutman occurring on that campus.
Watson said that increasing growth and calls leaves less time for community policing. He will request an additional two officer positions in the 2023-2024 budget.
As the Council annexes more property into the town, the size of the TPD’s patrol area has increased. Watson is creating two patrol zones to ensure adequate coverage and to create a sense of officer ownership to the assigned area.
Watson is also planning to conduct a N.C. Law Enforcement accreditation process this year to ensure the department is following best practices and operating to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and service.
The TPD is partnering with a nearby facility run by law enforcement experts to conduct training using simulated force-on-force and defensive tactics trainings. He is also getting officers certificated as instructors to conduct more training in-house.
Recruiting and retaining officers remains competitive, so one officer is now assigned recruiting duties in addition to regular duties. Prospective officers must pass a physical fitness test and a written test to move to the interview stage.
To assist in recruiting, the department is starting a Police Recruit Program this year, which pays recruits at a lower rate (with both town and state money) while they attend the Basic Law Enforcement Training. Participating recruits must sign a contract to work for the town for a minimum of two years.
Watson is also asking for an increase in starting pay in next year’s budget to stay competitive with nearby municipalities and attract quality applicants.
The chief is also requesting funds to purchase three Dodge Charger patrol cars to replace three aging vehicles (each with 150,000 plus miles).
Watson also cited space needs for his growing department and evidence storage. The department lacks an interview/interrogation room with required recording equipment. Officers now use body cameras and an office, which is not conducive to effective interrogations.
The department is also asking for cameras for Town Hall, the evidence vault, ESC Park, the Depot, and the Wagner Street parking lot to deter crime and increase safety. The cameras can be added to the town’s Flock system.